‘Divisive concepts’ bill moves forward in the Indiana Senate
A bill to restrict teaching about race and racism has taken another step forward in the Indiana legislature after undergoing some changes.
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Council committee OKs proposal tracking federal pandemic relief spending
Proposal 58 is a rare Republican-led initiative to gain traction in a legislative body with a 20-5 Democratic supermajority.
Indiana Senate panel backs bill without big tax-cut proposal
The Senate’s tax committee voted 12-1 to advance the bill to the full Senate, where Republican leaders have cited uncertainty about the economy in resisting tax cuts despite recent big growth in state tax collections.
State lawmakers table IndyGo Blue Line amendment
The House Ways and Means Committee on Monday tabled an amendment that would have conditioned the removal of some public transportation funding requirements on compliance with new lane minimums—which would’ve involved budget-busting redesign and land acquisition over several miles of the proposed 24-mile route.
Indiana lawmakers advance stripped-down college aid application bill
A bill that seeks to increase the number of Indiana students who complete the federal college financial aid application advanced to the Indiana House on Monday, but only after lawmakers removed an significant mandate from the measure.
Indiana officials reject ballot challenge to GOP Rep. Banks
A long-shot Democratic candidate for Rep. Jim Banks’ northeastern Indiana district argued the congressman should be kicked off the ballot because he violated the Constitution by allegedly supporting last year’s U.S. Capitol insurrection.
City-County Council announces last Indianapolis redistricting forum
The event will be remote. The Zoom meeting is set for Feb. 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and is open to any interested Marion County resident with registration online.
Senate Republicans strip down key Indiana House bills in second half of session
Republican leaders of the House and Senate say they are optimistic they’ll find compromises before the Legislature adjourns in March.
U.S. Senate sends Biden bill averting federal shutdown
The Senate gave final approval Thursday to legislation averting a weekend government shutdown, sending President Joe Biden a measure designed to give bipartisan bargainers more time to reach an overdue deal financing federal agencies until fall.
Indiana House committee strikes Senate’s attempt to ban ‘marijuana light’
Lawmakers in the Indiana House nixed an effort by some Senate Republicans to ban the sale of a popular derivative of hemp at levels that can give users a high.
Indiana lawmakers step back ‘curricula transparency’ bill
Indiana state senators on Wednesday also moved forward with a separate bill that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in K-12 school sports that match their gender identity.
Indiana Senate panel waters down vaccine bill, prompting businesses to support it
Lawmakers in the Senate struck language from the House GOP’s employer vaccine mandates bill that would have forced employers to accept any religious exemptions without further question.
Indiana Rep. Banks facing ‘insurrection’ ballot challenge
The challenge was filed by a long-shot Democratic candidate for Banks’ congressional seat and likely has little chance of success when it goes before the state election commission on Friday, a former longtime commission member said.
White House, Dems eye pause of gas tax as prices soar, election looms
The early deliberations come days after a group of vulnerable Senate Democrats introduced a bill that would suspend the gas tax of roughly 18 cents per gallon for the rest of the year.
Michigan Senate votes to cut income, corporate tax rates
Republicans who control the Michigan Senate on Tuesday passed a $2.5 billion annual tax cut, voting to lower income and corporate rates while letting people claim a credit for their children and deduct more retirement income.
Indiana Senate committee strips all tax cuts out of House proposal
Republicans in the Indiana Senate gutted House Republicans’ plan for $1 billion in tax cuts within minutes of the bill’s first hearing in the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee on Tuesday.
Hoosier Lottery could need legislative OK for online games
Indiana lawmakers are looking to block the Hoosier Lottery from starting online games or ticket sales without their permission.
Whetstone, former state lawmaker turned lobbyist, seeks return to the Legislature
Republican Matt Whetstone of Brownsburg has filed to run in the open Indiana House District 25 in Hendricks and Boone counties. He joins three other Republicans in a crowded primary race.
Indiana lawmakers turn down changes to mail-in voting rules
The proposal would have required voters who requested mail-in ballots to swear under possible penalty of perjury that they wouldn’t be able to vote in person at any time during the 28 days before Election Day.
Legislation attempts to ban sale of ‘weed light’ in Indiana
Delta-8 THC, called “weed light” by some, essentially gives a weaker high than marijuana. A derivative of the compound has been selling briskly at hemp and CBD shops around the state in the form of gummies, candy and wax concentrate, thanks to a legal gray area in current state and federal law.